Tide Tidbits – April 17, 2009

Goal-oriented: Preseason hype doesn’t register on Saban’s radar
Alabama football coach Nick Saban isn’t interested in predictions. He’s interested in results. So when predictions on the upcoming season were offered by local reporters during Thursday night’s “Dinner With Nick” fundraiser for Team Focus at South Alabama’s Mitchell Center — many have his third Crimson Tide squad as the team to beat in the SEC’s Western Division — he didn’t give them much weight. “I thought my purpose here to night was to support Team Focus,” Saban said when he took the podium as the featured speaker. “But I learned more about our football team tonight than I have in a long time. I really don’t believe it, but I appreciate the information.”

Nick Saban: “We have a pretty good idea of where we’re going with the quarterback position right now”
Saban has made it pretty clear this spring which one of his quarterbacks is performing. That would be junior Greg McElroy. But what Saban hasn’t said is that McElroy will start in the opener against Virginia Tech. “I think we have a pretty good idea of where we’re going with the quarterback position right now,” Saban said. “Greg McElroy takes every rep that he can take in practice to do the things that he needs to do to be successful. …He’s been the most effective quarterback to this point.” See also: Saban: McElroy leads in Bama’s QB race;

Stabler won’t return to the booth
Stabler, who served in that capacity along with play-by-play announcer Eli Gold from 1998 through 2007, has decided not to return to the broadcast booth. Crimson Tide Sports Network general manager Jim Carabin and Alabama athletic director Mal Moore jointly made the announcement. “In talking recently with Kenny, he has decided to pursue other opportunities and will not return to our radio broadcast team,” Moore said in a statement released by the university. “I appreciate Kenny’s contributions to our program over the years and I look forward to that relationship continuing in the future. Kenny’s an important part of our history, and his involvement as part of our announce team over the years was tremendous.” See also: Ken Stabler will not be in Alabama football broadcast booth in 2009; Stabler bows out of booth;

Smith leaving Alabama
A story in Thursday’s edition of The Birmingham News reported that Smith plans to transfer from Alabama and won’t participate in any further Crimson Tide spring functions “while he tries to research opportunities for himself next year,” Saban said.

Green, McElroy emerging as Alabama’s surprises
Robby Green, the new guy in an experienced Alabama secondary, was recognized as the defensive surprise of spring practice by Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. The 6-foot, 180-pound sophomore from New Orleans moved from cornerback to safety and has made a rapid transition while learning Alabama’s defensive scheme. “Robby Green has really done a good job in the secondary as a young player who hasn’t played much,” Saban said Thursday before Alabama’s final practice leading into Saturday’s A-Day Game.

Is Alabama’s Offense That Bad, or Is Alabama’s Defense Just That Good?
Alabama fans should be getting more than a little nervous with reports coming out of Tuscaloosa that Alabama’s offense is finding it difficult to move the ball against its own defense. There are stories that yards are so hard to come by, and first downs are being celebrated by the offense in scrimmages and practice. Is Alabama’s offense that bad, or is Alabama’s defense just that good?

First-teamers paired for A-Day
The first-team offense will be pitted against the first-team defense in Saturday’s A-Day Game, with the No. 1 offensive unit playing on the Crimson squad and the top defenders on the White unit. Saban said this year’s format will be similar to last year’s spring game. Instead of trying to split up offensive and defensive units, the first and second teams will be intact for the game. “First offense will be on one team, the first defense will be on one team, and those guys will largely compete against each other,” Saban said. “I think it will be helpful to the quarterback, I think it will be challenging to the offensive line and I think it will be good for our team to define where we are and help us improve for next season and our opener on Sept. 5.” See also: Essential info for Alabama’s A-Day game; So you wanted a depth chart? You got one. Kinda…;

Roll Tide!

~ _____________________________________



Have BamaFootball4Life eMailed to You for Free


_____________________________________


Enter your email address:

Other subscription options.

~

______________________________________


Quick Links

______________________________________


FREE Magazines!

Recruiting
mybama.com
Polls/Rankings
Links and More Links...